How to Grow Your Hair in a Week

Maybe you're regretting your new haircut, or trying to grow out your hair for a rapidly approaching event. No matter what your reasons are, there are some practical measures you can take to encourage speedy hair growth. Try enriching hair treatments like a warm oil scalp massage, adjust your hair care routine in a way that avoids putting stress on your hair, and consume nutrients known to help hair growth (like protein and biotin). There are limits on how much hair will grow in a week, but giving your hair a little extra love will maximize hair growth in a short period.

Do a warm oil scalp massage. A warm oil scalp massage uses natural oils to improve the health of your scalp and encourage hair growth. Oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil can all be used during your scalp massage. Keep in mind warm scalp massages have not been scientifically proven to lead to faster hair growth.[1]

Start by warming up the oil in a bowl of hot water. Test the oil before you use it to make sure it is not scalding hot; you want a comfortable temperature that will not damage your scalp or your hair.

Use your fingertips (not your fingernails) to gently massage your scalp with the warm oil in slow, circular motions. If you have a partner or a friend close by, ask them to help you massage your scalp. Have them massage your scalp with their fingertips for about 3 minutes.

Then, run the oil through your hair and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Shampoo your hair well, possibly more than once, to remove the oil.

Do the oil massage on the days when you normally shampoo, so that you do not end up washing your hair more often than usual.

Make a hair mask. Give your hair some TLC and encourage your hair follicles to grow faster by applying a hair mask once or twice a week. You can make your own natural oil mask or buy over-the-counter hair masks at your local drug store or beauty supply store.[2]

Try a castor oil treatment. Castor oil is known for its beneficial effects on skin and hair.[3] Using a castor oil hair mask may help your hair to grow faster and healthier.[4]

Start by massaging your scalp with castor oil and allowing the oil to fall into your hair. Wrap your hair and head with a plastic shower cap so the oil stays put. Some of the oil will probably seep out from under the cap, so you may want to spread a towel on your pillow to protect your pillowcase.

Leave the oil in overnight. The following morning, wash and condition your hair as you usually would, making sure to remove all the oil.

Apply an apple cider rinse. Apple cider vinegar can be very effective at removing dirt, grime, and oil buildup in your hair, as well as any residue from your hair styling products. You can use apple cider on the days you do not use shampoo as a natural alternative, or apply it following your regular shampoo and conditioner routine.[5]

Add two tablespoons of vinegar to two cups of water and rinse your hair with this mixture. Though the water may smell strongly of vinegar, this smell will fade.

Shampoo your hair two to three times during the week. Cutting down on your shampoo routine to two to three times a week will allow the oils in your scalp to penetrate your hair. Your hair can then hydrate and repair itself.[6]

If you notice your scalp gets very oily or itchy after shampooing for only two to three times a week, you may want to increase the amount of times you shampoo every week.

To properly shampoo your hair, only rub it into your scalp, massaging your scalp as you do this, and then let the shampoo run down the strands of your hair as you wash out the shampoo.

Condition your hair every time you shower. Unlike shampoo, it’s important that you always use conditioner on your hair when you get it wet in the shower. Conditioner can help to replace the lipids and proteins in your hair shafts and allow your hair to grow longer and healthier.

Avoid wrapping your wet hair in a towel. Though you may be in the habit of wrapping and twisting your hair in a towel once you get out of the shower, doing this can cause breakage and put stress on the strands of your hair. Wet hair is particularly fragile, so substitute the post-shower towel wrap with a gentle pat down using a dry towel.[8]

If you like to wrap your hair in a towel, you can try using thin towels and soft microfiber towels. These towels are made of a material that is gentle on your hair and dries it well without breakage.

Brush your hair before bed. Over-brushing your hair every day can actually be bad for your hair and lead to poor growth. Instead, use a boar bristle brush a few times through your hair before bed. This will help to distribute the oils in your scalp onto your hair so it stays moisturized, naturally.[9]

Start at your scalp and use even strokes to go through each section of your hair at least once.

Brushing once a day before bed can also increase circulation on your scalp, which can improve its health and encourage hair growth. Though brushing your hair is not scientifically proven to lead to faster hair growth, it can help to improve the overall health of your hair.

Avoid hot styling tools. One of the most common ways you can damage your hair and hinder its ability to grow is to use hot styling tools like hair dryers, hair straighteners, and hair curlers. Try to cut back on your use of them or cut them out of your hair care routine completely. Go for more natural looking locks so you do not get in the way of healthy hair growth.[10]

If you do use hot styling tools, you should use them on a low heat setting and use a heat protectant gel, cream, or spray to avoid damaging your hair.

Get your hair trimmed. While it may seem counterintuitive, getting your hair trimmed can actually help it grow faster and healthier. Trimming your hair regularly will prevent split ends from working their way up the strands of your hair, which will reduce the need to get your hair cut. Split ends can cause your hair to break off high up on the strand, leading to shorter hair and more trips to your stylist.[11]

Your hairdresser should trim ⅛ of an inch (3 mm) off your hair every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent the development of damaging split ends. Try to schedule consistent appointments with your hairdresser so your hair stays healthy and free of split ends.

How often you need to get a trim will depend on how fast your hair grows and how damaged the ends are.

Take hair-boosting supplements. A multivitamin that is formulated to improve your hair may be a good option if your diet is not supplying enough hair boosting nutrition. Look for vitamins labeled “for hair,” such as biotin tablets, which contain key vitamins like biotin, vitamin C, and vitamin B that support hair health. These supplements can help your hair grow faster and healthier.[12]

Before you take any supplements, you should speak with your doctor to ensure you are taking the proper dosage and the supplements will not interact negatively with any medications you are currently on.

Biotin and other hair-growth vitamins may work differently or cause different side effects for different people.

Look for supplements that have been tested by third party verifiers, such as USP, NSF, or Consumer Lab.

Eat foods that are high in protein. Increasing your protein intake will promote healthy hair growth and ensure you do not start to shed or lose your hair. Make sure your diet is a balance of meat, fish, beans, nuts, and whole grains. If you are vegetarian, ensure you get enough protein through soy based foods, beans, nuts, and grains.[13]

If you would like to follow a high protein diet, it’s important that you choose your protein sources wisely. Avoid processed meats or full-fat dairy products, as these can lead to other health issues.

Make sure you are also getting enough healthy carbs in your diet that are high in fiber and full of nutrients, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.[14]

Try the “inversion” method. The “inversion” method is when you invert your head so it is below your heart, stimulating blood flow that can then encourage hair growth. Lay on your bed and allow your head to dangle off the edge of the bed so your neck is supported on the edge of your bed. You should try to remain in this position for 4 to 5 minutes a day. Though there is no scientific proof that this method works, it is a harmless method you can try to encourage hair growth.[15]

You can also do yoga poses like downward dog, shoulder stand, or head stand. The idea is that your head is below your heart, leading to blood flow to your head.

You can massage your scalp with coconut oil before you invert for 4 minutes a day to encourage hair growth.

You may also want to measure the length of your hair at the beginning of the week so you can chart your progress.

Come out of the inversion slowly so you do not feel faint or dizzy. At the end of the week, measure your hair again and note how long your hair has grown in just one week.

Advertisement

You're helping people by reading wikiHow

wikiHow's mission is to help people learn, and we really hope this article helped you. Now you are helping others, just by visiting wikiHow.

Barefoot College is a social enterprise with a mission to connect poor rural communities to technology and education. By doing so, they empower individuals to contribute to the wellbeing of their communities.

Click below to let us know you read this article, and wikiHow will donate to Barefoot College on your behalf. Thanks for helping us achieve our mission of helping people learn how to do anything.

This would be impossible considering that hair only grows about half an inch per month on average. Depending on how fast your hair grows, it would take about 2 years to see an additional 10 inches in length.

No. Pulling your hair into tight styles can cause stress on your scalp and lead to breakage. I suggest putting your hair into low-manipulation styles (one style a week maybe). I've been using some of these methods for about a year now, and my hair has grown over 20 inches.

What is the best way to dry my hair when I'm trying to get it to grow?

Answered by
wikiHow Contributor

Dry your hair by putting a towel underneath your hair and draping it like a cape on your shoulders. Gently brush your hair with a boar bristle brush., starting from the ends. After that, use your hands to squeeze the water out gently, and then pat it off with the towel.

On average, hair grows about .5 inches (1.3 cm) in a month. Even with these methods, you will probably only see a very small amount of growth (just a fraction of an inch, or a few millimeters) over the course of a single week.

Reader Success Stories

"All of these tips were amazing, everything from hairstyles to growing your hair a little faster then usual. All of the information on wikiHow was useful."..." more

LA

Lilly Anderson

Oct 25, 2017

"What I did was mix equal proportions of coconut oil, castor oil and olive oil. Then I would start at the roots then spread the mixture to the ends of my hair. Leave it in overnight, then wash out in the morning. It's best to do this once a week."..." more

JE

Joyce E.

Aug 23, 2017

"Relieved my anxiety about my way too short, unflattering haircut. At least I am eating healthy and now have something to try to help it. Also to be able to see a closer light at the end of the of the tunnel. ''This too shall pass!" :)"..." more

Rated this article:

HC

Hannah C.

Dec 28, 2016

"I finally found something that works! All I use is the coconut oil and the inverse method, and it works like a charm. I have thick hair, and it is hard for me to grow my hair because I dye it a lot. This was very helpful."..." more

KH

Kayleigh Holland

Mar 12, 2017

"I always wear my hair up in a hair tie. My hair is always thin, so now I know not to wear it up. I also used to always curl my hair before school since I was in 7th grade, so that did not help. Thank you so much!"..." more

MF

Mary Fox

Aug 20, 2017

"My hair was cut just a bit too short, and this article encouraged me to "rock it". Wear it with pride and act as if you like it! Other people's opinions don't count. Present yourself with confidence and joy!"..." more

Rated this article:

A

Anonymous

Apr 30, 2017

"The hair massage oil works great for my hair, and I use onion juice on my hair because they say it stop hair fall. Thank you for sharing tips to make hair grow faster and thicker. Keep up the good work."..." more

SL

Skyla Landwehr

Jun 27, 2017

"This helped me so much, I was eating plenty of healthy foods and boosting my hair supplements, and cold water in the end of the shower totally worked. I have very healthy looking hair!"..." more

Rated this article:

A

Anonymous

Oct 23, 2017

"I think that the inversion method had worked wonders in my hair, I could actually see the growth after only 2 weeks, and it had been an entire 1.5 inches longer."..." more

JG

Janice Griffin

May 22, 2017

"I had cut my hair and regretted it. My hair was almost to my knees! Then I read this article and it grew back in 2 months, just in time for school. "..." more

SJ

Skye Jennings

Jun 16, 2017

"This helped a lot! I am going to try at least half of these remedies and I am hoping that it will help my hair get longer much faster than usual. "..." more

Rated this article:

RP

Rose Pakai

Jun 29, 2017

"Very clear and helpful. The instructions are clear to follow. I am willing to give it a go. I will let you know the results. Thanks."..." more

A

Anonymous

Oct 10, 2016

"I think it will be useful for me, because my hair is less and not growing at all, and I am trying to reverse that nonsense."..." more

A

Anonymous

May 25, 2017

"Love it because I have a bald spot on my head, and it is super noticeable. What a coincidence, I have an inversion table!"..." more

JF

Jenisa Fox

Oct 30, 2017

"Changing the hairstyle I used and trying the inversion method worked. Change your hair care and your hair should grow!"..." more

SG

Sophie Gangmei

Aug 20, 2016

"It helped a lot. I do hair massage every week by using coconut oil and that really works. Thanks for the tips. "

A

Anonymous

Dec 27, 2016

"I enjoyed the article about how to grow your hair faster. Always enjoy the articles and the awesome feedback."

RS

Riya Sarangal

Apr 11, 2016

"I very much agree with this hair care routine. I am glad to say that my hair is now long, thick, and shiny."

SR

Sumaiya Raju

Aug 1, 2016

"Massaging with olive oil, castor oil, and coconut oil and washing the oil in the morning is the best way."

QK

Quinn Kuzmiak

Aug 11, 2017

"I didn't try this for myself yet but my friend did and their hair is so long and healthy!! Thank you!"

Rated this article:

RR

Rozey Rezene

Jul 7, 2017

"I was doing the inversion method and it wasn't really that bad so I kept on doing it and it worked!"

Rated this article:

A

Anonymous

Aug 9, 2016

"I came to know about how to protect our hair and which are the best ways to protect our hair."

DH

Danielle Harper

May 21, 2017

"My hair used to be brittle and dry. This article helped. Y'all should try the invert method."

Rated this article:

BC

Brooklyn Coleman

Jul 28, 2017

"My hair never grew before but I did a lot of these for a month and my hair grew 6 inches. "

Rated this article:

NS

Nancy Shen

Jun 11, 2017

"I got a haircut and they cut way too much off, so now I'm trying to grow it back fast. "

Rated this article:

CW

Carolyn Waldeck

Nov 8, 2017

"I massage my hair when I wash it, and massage when I run water and when I condition it."

A

Anonymous

Dec 14, 2016

"Tipping my head back and letting the blood flow to the scalp was the most helpful tip."